Re: Satellite-to-Satellite communications

The Eagle requirement states a high-apogee elliptical orbit (probably
500-800 km x 35,000 km). Inclination would be determined by the launch
vehicle. I suppose that its not really a Molniya orbit unless the
inclination is a certain value.
73,
John
KD6OZH
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne Estes" <w9ae@charter.net>
To: <amsat-bb@amsat.org>
Sent: Monday, January 09, 2006 18:41 UTC
Subject: Re: [amsat-bb] Satellite-to-Satellite communications
> John Stephenson wrote:
>
> AMSAT-NA and AMSAT-DL will determine the exact orbits when they fire the
> onboard rocket engines. They will both be Molniya orbits similar to AO-13.
>
> Wayne replies:
>
> P3E is planned to go into a Molniya (high-inclination HEO) orbit. The
> new Eagle brochure states that Eagle will have limited propulsion
> capability to merely boost the perigee of the initial GTO orbit
> (low-inclination HEO). So P3E's apogee would be in far northern
> latitudes (like AO-13's early years) and Eagle's apogee would be near
> the equator (like AO-40). The coverage footprints are significantly
> different, and the orbital period and daily precession would be
> different as well.
>
> I think it's a GOOD thing that the two satellites will be in different
> orbits. The P3E orbit maximizes east-west DX range for folks in the
> northern hemisphere. The Eagle orbit maximizes north-south DX range for
> everybody, and is much more useful for folks in the southern hemisphere.
> If both satellites get to their intended orbit, hams in the northern
> hemisphere will be able to contact almost every place on earth without
> needing an relay link between the satellites. I doubt that "internet
> relay" contacts would be valid for awards such as DXCC.
>
> Wayne Estes W9AE
> Oakland, Oregon, USA
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